One of the biggest issues FCS football faces today is the constant allure the next level has to its best and brightest stars. The transfer portal and NIL has only exacerbated that ongoing enticement and it’s
made it extremely difficult for many programs to remain competitive on a yearly basis. Every year when the season comes to an end, a ton of FCS standouts hit the portal and, within days, have found a new FBS home. While that same trend rang true again this January in many ways, one thing that seems to be heading in the other direction is that the top names at the QB position are opting to stay right where they are instead of taking the gamble at moving up.
While it is true that some notables like ex-Mercer signal caller and Jerry Rice Award recipient Braden Atkinson did decide to move on to the FBS, a heavy majority of the household names didn’t go anywhere. In fact, of the 15 playoff quarterbacks from last season that did not graduate, ten came back. It’s a big win for the subdivision that, as it seemed to many, has been nothing more than a feeder system for the FBS in recent years. Not only should it set up an exciting fall later this year, but it might also set a new precedent for future QBs and star players in general.
The National Champion Comes Back
One of the most significant returnees this season will be Montana State quarterback Justin Lamson. Lamson helped lead MSU to its first national title in over four decades last year and played some absolutely terrific football down the home stretch. Lamson, who came in from Stanford prior to last season, put up big numbers in 2025, throwing for 3,172 yards and 26 touchdowns. During the playoffs alone, he was responsible for 11 scores and made arguably the throw of the year to win the championship on fourth down in overtime earlier this month in Nashville. With only three picks all year, it was no secret that Lamson was one of the best quarterbacks in the country at the FCS level and, because of that, there was legitimate chatter that he might hit the portal for his senior season.
Lamson, though, decided to run it back and announced shortly after the championship that he would be staying in Bozeman. That alone should make MSU a contender for the crown once again this upcoming season. The Big Sky Newcomer of the Year is unquestionably a major reason why the Bobcats accomplished what they did last year and having him back in the mix is a huge win for Montana State. Lamson, however, is far from the only QB with major accolades to come back in 2026.
Walter Payton Winner Brungard Stays
Youngstown State’s Beau Brungard was essentially a video game for the Penguins last year, authoring a staggering 4,752 total yards and 54 touchdowns by way of the run, pass and even a catch. Not only was he the second best passer in a very crowded Missouri Valley Conference (behind only Illinois State’s Tommy Rittenhouse who played four more games), Brungard also took home the coveted Walter Payton Award for his work. He got YSU to the playoffs for the second time in his illustrious career and, at this point, has practically rewritten the rewritten the school’s record books.
It is not all that common that the Walter Payton recipient has eligibility remaining but Brungard does and he will be using it at YSU as a senior this year, despite undoubtedly receiving FBS interest. A guy with his sort of production certainly received calls and opportunities elsewhere and, in all reality, he’s got a chance to be headed to the NFL someday. Being an Ohio native certainly helped keep him around and Brungard is staying where is roots are. He’ll be looking to end his career where it began and keep Youngstown State relevant in the playoff chase for another season.
Conference Leaders and All-Americans are Hanging Around
There were a handful of other notable signal callers that will be staying as well, many of whom led the country or nation in specific categories, starting with the subdivision’s leading passer in Montana’s Keali’i Ah Yat. Ah Yat was simply sensational for the Griz in 2025 as a sophomore. He was the only FCS quarterback to throw for over 4,000 yards and he tossed 33 touchdowns as well while leading UM to the semifinals. Then there’s Hayden Johnson at Lehigh who was named a first-team All-Patriot League performer after throwing for 2,510 yards and racking up 22 total TDs. Johnson has guided the Mountain Hawks to two straight playoff seasons and his return makes a third all that much more attainable.
Looking over the CAA, FCS Football Central All-American QB Devin Farrell of Rhode Island has also decided to run it back for the Rams after a second consecutive postseason appearance as well. Farrell has been the lynchpin of the URI offense for several years now since transferring in from Virginia Tech prior to the 2023 campaign. He has piled up 5,474 passing yards along with 44 total touchdowns in his three years with Rhody and now, as a redshirt senior, should have them a favorite to win the conference again in 2026.
Other big names coming back in the Missouri Valley besides the aforementioned Brungard are South Dakota State’s Chase Mason and North Dakota’s Jerry Kaminski, both of whom also led their respective teams to the playoffs last year. Mason, despite being hurt for a good portion of the season, still threw for over 2,000 yards and 15 touchdowns (plus was the only FCS signal caller to beat national champion Montana State). Kaminski, meanwhile, accounted for 34 total TDs and averaged close to 200 passing yards per game as a sophomore.
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To retain such a rich crop of quarterbacks in today’s college football is a massive and impressive win for the FCS. Perhaps some of the issues that are weighing heavy on the upper crust of the sport are turning players off to wanting to get involved, despite the large sums of money that may be waiting. Maybe the idea of rolling the dice for playing time for an FBS team just doesn’t seem as attractive as staying where there’s essentially a sure thing at a starting role where they are right now. Or it might be just as simple as the fact that these guys feel as though they’ve got too much going for them and their teams to leave. Whatever the case, the FCS should be as thrilling to watch as it has been in years in 2026 because so many of their brightest QB stars are back in the fold.
